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School Wildfire Protection Plan Unveiled by San Diego County

San Diego’s Office of Emergency Services has developed a new wildfire emergency preparedness plan for area schools, KPBS reports.

A new plan unveiled by the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services outlines steps school leaders can take when they have to evacuate due to a wildfire.

"How will transportation be secured to get the kids out of harm's way if an evacuation of the campus is necessary?" said San Diego County Office of Emergency Services Director Holly Porter. "What are the reunification procedures if you do have to relocate to an alternative site — what are the procedures staff should follow when parents come to pick up their children?"

In addition to the guidelines, more targeted plans can be implemented for individual schools. Parental involvement is also important, Lakeside Fire Protection District Chief Don Butz said.

“Parents should be reaching out to their schools — their children's schools — to find out where those relocation sites are and more importantly what’s the best way to get information," he said. "Is it via social media — is there a mass calling system they use?"

The 2018 wildfire season was the worst ever recorded in California history.